Theory of change for fund managers and impact investors
A theory of change is the foundation of an organisation’s strategy, evaluation, communication, and measurement.
By Flora Charatan, and Gurmeet Kaur .
On 25 April 2024.
6 ingredients for systems change
Why we need understanding, resources, collaboration, patience, learning, and bravery for change. Key takeaways from NPC Ignites 2024.
By Rose Anderson .
On 17 October 2024.
How can funders help tackle the youth mental health crisis?
At NPC, we have identified six key areas where funders have the potential to create long-term positive change for children and young people.
By Lily Meisner .
On 16 July 2024.
Blog
What do charity trustees need to know about AI?
By Joseph Barnsley .
On 22 April 2025.
Amid all the hype, what do trustees need to know? Thanks to the support of the Clothworkers Company, we recently held a discussion on this question.
Blog
Trust, communication, and risk: 3 takeaways on social impact from the Marmalade festival
By Kaan Yilmazturk .
On 8 April 2025.
Funders and grantees need to trust and challenge each other, we need creative ways to communicate impact outside our bubble, and we need to recognise the risks of not funding.
Blog
Now is the time for a government match-funding scheme to unlock growth
By James Somerville .
On 20 March 2025.
Match-funding should be used to tackle barriers to employment
Blog
How can prisons adapt to the climate and nature crises?
By Abigail Rose .
On 11 March 2025.
The prison system is not built to withstand increasingly intense heatwaves and floods, to provide access to green spaces, or to develop skills that set people up for green jobs.
Blog
How to decide if spending down is right for your foundation
By Hannah Large, and Sarah Denselow .
On 5 March 2025.
If you’re a trustee of grant-making organisation that’s been considering spend down as an option, how could you approach this decision and what are some of the factors you might want to consider?
Blog
How funders can reduce inequalities in early years
By Abigail Rose .
On 26 February 2025.
Invest in accessible community-led projects, including through micro-grants, and support systemic approaches.
Blog
Governments need to partner with the impact sector, not just ‘get out of the way’
By James Somerville .
On 19 February 2025.
We know that ‘stepping back’ doesn’t work. The key is a true partnership to tackle shared challenges.
Blog
Listen: Impact measurement and the systems change approach
On 14 February 2025.
Listen to Elliot Trevithick, NPC's Principal for Charities Evaluation and Learning on the Third Sector Podcast.
Blog
Funding and Philanthropy in 2025: 5 trends to watch
By Alex Hayes .
On 11 February 2025.
Increased use of AI, the growth of impact investing, responding to government policy, a potential gentle re-opening to applications, and the continuing rise of funder collaboration.
Blog
Listen: Impact measurement and the systems change approach
On 14 February 2025.
Listen to Elliot Trevithick, NPC's Principal for Charities Evaluation and Learning on the Third Sector Podcast.
Blog
Listen: Creating Impactful Charity-Corporate Partnerships
By Brendan McGowan .
On 3 December 2024.
Brendan McGowan, Senior Consultant at NPC, on the Tiger’s Mouth podcast.
Blog
Listen: Charities and strategic climate action
On 19 July 2024.
Listen to Liz Gadd, NPC's environmental lead on the Third Sector Podcast.
Blog
Listen: UK Autumn Statement special
On 14 December 2023.
In this podcast recorded for Public Finance, our CEO Dan Corry discusses the Autumn Statement.
Blog
Listen: Lived Experience
On 15 October 2023.
In this podcast recorded for Charity Chat, Charlotte Lamb discusses how to centre lived experience in your organisation.
Blog
Listen: How to govern in a crisis
On 25 July 2023.
In this podcast recorded for Charity Chat, Sally Bagwell discuss how to be a trustee in a time of permacrisis.
Blog
Listen: Who’s most affected by the climate crisis?
On 17 July 2023.
Listen to Jabeer Butt, chief executive of the Race Equality Foundation on the Third Sector Podcast.
Blog
Listen: How can grant-makers make funding fairer?
On 28 April 2023.
We discuss our upcoming guide to diverse, equitable and inclusive grantmaking on the Third Sector Podcast.
Blog
Listen: Open Philanthropy – inside and out
On 8 March 2023.
What if philanthropy were more open? Tris Lumley talks with Rhodri Davies, host of the Philanthropisms Podcast, about how philanthropy can open up.
Blog
Listen: Where next for the impact agenda?
On 29 November 2022.
In this podcast, recorded for The Do One Better Podcast, Dan Corry talks with Alberto Lidji about the future of the impact agenda.
Blog
Listen: Open Philanthropy
On 21 November 2022.
What if philanthropy were more open? How much more could we achieve? Tris Lumley talks with Charity Chat about how philanthropy can open up.
Blog
Listen: The cost of living crisis – a triple headed storm
On 14 November 2022.
How should charities respond to the cost of living crisis? Recorded for the Charity Chat Podcast.
Blog
Listen: Philanthropy in a Cost of Living Crisis
On 10 October 2022.
Angela Kail and Rhodri Davies discuss how philanthropists should respond to the cost of living crisis.
Blog
Listen: Collaborating On The Climate Crisis
On 12 July 2022.
We need to better understand how the changing environment is going to impact different people, and ensure the most disadvantaged aren't worst affected.
Blog
Dame Stephanie Shirley: Lessons from Philanthropy
By Dame Stephanie Shirley, philanthropist and entrepreneur .
On 4 July 2022.
To mark our 20th birthday, we spoke with Dame Stephanie Shirley to ask: Where next for philanthropy?
Blog
What place for participation in grant-making?
By Hannah Paterson and Yasmin Ibison.
On 4 July 2022.
To mark our 20th birthday, we spoke with Hannah Paterson and Yasmin Ibison to ask: What place for participation in grant-making?
Blog
Javed Khan: Can small charities lead partnerships with big charities?
By Javed Khan, former chief executive of Barnardo’s.
On 27 June 2022.
To mark our 20th birthday, we spoke with Javed Khan to ask: Can small charities lead partnerships with big charities?
Blog
Angela Salt: Can a volunteering boom ever last?
By Angela Salt, Chief Executive of the Girl Guides.
On 27 June 2022.
To mark our 20th birthday, we spoke with Angela Salt to ask: Can a volunteering boom ever last?
Blog
Jonathan Breckon: Where next for the impact and what works agenda?
By Jonathan Breckon, policy fellow at UCL’s Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement and the director of Breckon Consulting Ltd .
On 20 June 2022.
To mark our 20th birthday, we spoke with Jonathan Breckon to ask: Where next for the impact and what works agenda?
Blog
Samuel Kasumu: How political should charities be?
By Samuel Kasumu, former no10 adviser and founder of Inclusive Boards.
On 20 June 2022.
To mark our 20th birthday, we spoke with Samuel Kasumu to ask: How political should charities be?
Blog
Listen: Systems strategy
On 13 June 2022.
Our Systems Change Principal, speaks with Sam Davies, host of the Charity Chat podcast, about how charities can adopt a systems approach to how they work.
Blog
Listen: The cost of living crisis
On 27 May 2022.
Angela Kail discusses how charities should respond to the cost of living crisis on the Third Sector Podcast.
Blog
Listen: How to measure your impact
On 16 May 2022.
Rosie McLeod speaks with Sam Davies, host of the Charity Chat podcast, to talk about how charities can measure their impact.
Blog
Listen: Tech for Good Live
On 22 April 2022.
Kathryn Dingle joins the Tech for Good Live Podcast to talk all things tech.
Blog
Listen: How to do theory of change
On 19 April 2022.
James Noble sits down with Sam Davies, host of the Charity Chat podcast, to talk theory of change.
Blog
Listen – The Levelling Up agenda
On 20 February 2022.
Recorded for Charity Chat: The Levelling Up agenda and how charities should be getting involved.
Blog
Listen: The Levelling Up white paper
On 18 February 2022.
Leah Davis chats with Rebecca Cooney and Alina Martin on the Third Sector podcast.
Blog
Listen: Purposely Podcast
On 10 February 2022.
Dan Corry chats with Mark Longbottom, host of Purposely Podcast, about NPC's journey and what the future holds for the social sector.
Blog
Listen: What if we could start from scratch?
On 27 January 2022.
Podcast: What if we could start over from scratch? What would we do differently?
Blog
Listen: Philanthropy and Civil Society Post-Pandemic
On 1 December 2021.
Recorded for the Philanthropisms Podcast: How the pandemic might reshape philanthropy and civil society.
Blog
Listen: Social issues and charities post-pandemic
On 1 November 2021.
Dan Corry joins the Charity Chat podcast to discuss how charities can rethink and rebuild following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Blog
Listen: The charity sector after a year of crisis
On 1 March 2021.
How has the charity sector has been impacted by the covid-19 pandemic?
Blog
Listen: Digital transformation
On 15 December 2020.
Rosario Piazza talks digital transformation for the How We Innovate Podcast.
Good ideas, effective research, independent thinking.
